Softball picked seventh in conference preseason ranking

Softball picked seventh in conference preseason ranking

SEWARD, Neb. – Head coach Todd LaVelle’s first Concordia softball team has been pegged by GPAC coaches to finish seventh in the conference. The poll was released Monday morning by the league.

Last season the Bulldogs went 14-25 overall and 8-12 in GPAC play (tied for seventh). Among the three Concordia players that were named all-conference last season, two return in 2014: pitcher Amanda Beeson and catcher Amber Topil.

The Bulldogs get the 2014 season started on Feb. 15 with a trio of games hosted by Briar Cliff. Concordia will play McPherson College, Bethel College (Kan.) and Sauk Valley Community College. The Bulldogs are scheduled to host for the first time on March 25 when Doane visits Seward for a doubleheader.

2014 GPAC softball preseason poll

(First-place votes in parentheses)

Hastings – 95 points (6)

Morningside – 91 (4)

Midland – 75 (1)

Northwestern – 73

Doane – 69

Nebraska Wesleyan – 52

Concordia – 45

Briar Cliff – 35

Dakota Wesleyan – 31

Dordt – 23

Mount Marty – 16

20 January 2014

Pitcher/Infielder Julia Tyree

Concordia University, Nebraska provides excellent professional and liberal arts programs in an environment that richly supports the Christian growth of its students.